John M. Dodd, son of Alfred F. Dodd and May Bales, was born August 6, 1859 near Galatia. He was reared on a farm and attended common school. His parents gave him the advantage of a good training in a select school at Galatia and two terms at Long Branch. He graduated at Galatia in 1879 and took up telegraphy under the railroad station agent at that place soon after. After one years practice he took charge of the station at Thompsonville on the Cairo Short Line, which he kept for four years. While working at the Thompsonville station John met and married Susan Isaacs, a local girl, on October 7, 1883 in Franklin County.

From there, he was transferred to New Athens, where he remained for another four years and then came to Marion. He took charge of the railroad office here on September 10, 1887 and ran it for fifteen years until his election as County Clerk in 1902.

An article in the paper in April of 1896 reported that the couple had lost an infant child. Another article in July 1897 reported the birth of a boy.

In the 1900 federal census, John M. aged 42 and Susan 33, had six children, Oscar 14, John 12, Gussie 8, Mary 6, Walter 2, and Nettie 5 months old. They owned their new home at 814 N. Market St. free of mortgage and John M. listed himself as a R.R. Station agent. A question on the census reported the couple had had 8 children and 6 were living.

In 1901 and 1902, John M. served as city alderman under Mayor William H. Bundy. Also in 1902, John was elected as Williamson County Clerk, a position that he would hold for 12 years until 1914.

When the Leader Printing Office was incorporated in June 1904, John M. Dodd was listed among the incorporators and was also elected the same year to a vacancy in the Board of Education as well as elected Clerk of the local Modern Woodmen of America, Marion Camp No. 5337. He was also serving on the Board of Trustees for the Methodist Church, South in Marion. When the village of Pittsburg was developed in 1905 Dodd purchased some property in the village.

During the 1910 federal census, while living at 814 N. Market St. the couple reported having had 9 children with 7 of them still living. John M. reported his occupation as county clerk. Their children living at home were Oscar, 25 and a solicitor; John M. Jr., 22 and a druggist; Gussie 18; Mary 15; Walter 12; Nettie 9; and Elvin aged 2.

When the city of Marion was considering its options for building a city library one of the first committees formed was in 1912 and John M. Dodd served on it. In 1913,he also served on the Buildings and Grounds Committee for the library to obtain offers on suitable building sites. In October of 1912, when the newest Williamson County jail was being built, Dodd received all the keys to the jail well ahead of its completion in order to guard against duplication.

It is known that through the mid 1910’s Dodd served as a Director for both the Citizen’s Trust and Banking Company and also the Marion Building and Loan Association. After his retirement from the County Clerk’s office in 1914, he became Assistant Cashier of the Marion State and Savings Bank in 1915. Two years later, in 1917, he became assistant chief clerk in the building and loan department of the state auditor’s office in Springfield, Illinois.

By the 1920 census, the Dodd family was living in Springfield, Illinois and John was working as an examiner in the state inspector’s office at the age of 60 while wife, Susan, was 52. Their children in the home then were Oscar N., 34 a magazine salesman; Gussie B. 28, Mary E. 25, a public school teacher; Nettie M. 19, a stenographer; and Roy E, aged 12.

By the 1930 census, 70 year old John was listed as a building and loan examiner, his wife was 64 and their children still at home were, Gussie B., 38, state clerk; Mary E. 35, school teacher; Nettie, 29, state stenographer and Roy E. aged 21. The family was living at 815 S. State Street in a home valued at $9,000.

On January 13, 1934, John M. Dodd passed away in his home in Springfield. In politics, he was a Republican and while in Williamson County was an active member of the Republican Central Committee. Also, while in the county he was an active member of the Knights of Pythias Monitor Lodge No. 236 and Keeper of Records and Seals, the International Order of Odd Fellows I.O.O.F., the Mystic Workers and the Methodist Church, south. He was survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters. Burial was in Roselawn Memorial Park in Springfield.

John’s wife, Susan Helen Isaacs Dodd, was born July 20, 1867 in Thompsonville and died on January 28, 1946 in Memorial hospital at Springfield. Surviving are three sons, Walter W. Dodd, Marion; and Oscar N. Dodd and Roy E. Dodd, both of Springfield; three daughters, Misses Gussie, Mary and Nettie, all of Springfield; one brother, James Isaacs, Wayne City; one grandson, Lt. William E. Dodd, U.S. navy, Chula Vista, Calif.; and one granddaughter, Mrs. Frank J. Brady, Peoria.

(Sources: Federal Census records, Marion Street Directories, Marion Weekly Leader, The Leader, Herrin News, Johnston City Progress, Egyptian Press newspapers, 1905 Souvenir History of Williamson County, Williamson County in the World War 1917-18, Pioneer Folks and Places. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 9/16/2023)